Woodend Cottage, Dumfries

Woodend Cottage is one of those places where the dog has clearly been thought about before you arrive rather than tolerated once you get there. Guests travelling with dogs describe a welcome pack waiting for them that includes treats, a bowl, a bed and a blanket, alongside the one laid on for the humans. It is a small thing that costs a property very little and it comes up in almost every account of a stay here.

The garden is the other reason dog owners rate it so highly. It is fully enclosed and large enough to be useful, which turns the first evening of a holiday from a job into a non-event: the dog can be let out to potter while the bags come in. For anyone travelling with a dog that cannot be trusted on an open boundary, or arriving late in the dark, that matters more than any amount of countryside nearby.

The setting strikes an unusually good balance. Terregles is quiet and rural enough that guests describe feeling properly away from things, yet Dumfries and its shops and restaurants are only about ten minutes down the road, and forest and coastal walks are a short drive in several directions. The owner gets in touch before arrival with information about the cottage and suggestions for the area, and late arrivals seem to be accommodated without fuss.

What is striking about the feedback from guests with dogs is how little of it carries any complaint at all - the criticisms column is repeatedly left empty or waved away in a word. That is unusual, and it is the main reason for a 4.8/5 paw rating. The honest caveat is a practical one rather than a fault: this is a self-catering cottage in a quiet spot, so you will want a car, and there is no on-site bar or restaurant to fall back on.

Best suited to couples or families who want an enclosed garden, a genuinely welcoming host and easy access to both town and countryside.